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Macklemore opens up about addiction

Rapper Macklemore of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis fame is looking back on his history of drug abuse.

In an interview, the rapper, born Ben Haggerty, says addiction to drugs such as cocaine and marijuana "wasted years" of his life. In fact, those years are literally lost to him because he says he doesn't even remember them.

After getting treatment for his addiction, he believed he had missed his opportunity at a career in hip-hop. That was until he teamed up with producer Ryan Lewis for their "The VS. EP." He says had that record not connected with people, he was "ready to give it up."

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are taking the stage at this weekend's MTV Video Music Awards, which airs Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on MTV. The duo is also up for six awards, including Video of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Video.